Fireproof envelope



Feb. E8, 1969 D. R. ARY 3,428,104

FIREPROOF ENVELOPE Filed Dec. 27, 1966 .5 v Dalmas R. Ary

INVENTOR.

United States Patent 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A fire protecti-ve container for valuable papers and the like, formed from foldable, incombustible, heat retarding material which facilitates continued wrapping to provide plural layers of protective material encasing its enclosures.

My present invention relates to new and useful improvements in fire protective storage devices for valuable papers and the like, and more particularly to a storage container which is admirably adapted for portability.

In todays manner of life, every responsible adult has and continuously accumulates papers and documents which he desires to keep and they thus require protection from fire. Certain business institutions have fireproof vaults having plural storage compartments which are available for use by individuals upon certain stipulated terms and conditions including payment of a fee periodically as long as the facility is used and setting certain hours and days when it is accessible to the patrons.

While this is satisfactory for some papers and documents wherein the immediate and frequent accessibility is not desired, for others it is highly inconvenient.

The cost of conventional fireproof boxes and safes on the open market is suificiently high as to be prohibitive to purchase by the average family unit which desires to have certain papers readily at hand.

Business frequently finds it necessary to transport sums of currency and other valuable papers from place to place in vehicles, wherein there is a fire hazard; and also require the storage of records and files 'which would be costly and time consuming to reproduce. Yet no portable container for transporting currency and valuable papers having the capabilities of protecting the same against normal accidental fire is available at a reasonable price on todays market.

My present invention seeks to provide a container for valuable papers and the like which will admirably overcome all of the foregoing objections.

It is, therefore, an object of my present invention to provide a container of the character described which is designed to enclose and preclude fire damage to its enclosures.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a container of the character described which is of a size and shape to be easily carried from place to place and which may be stored in a conventional cupboard, desk drawer, file cabinet and the like, normally found in a dwelling or small ofiice.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a container for valuable papers and the like; which container has a body of incombustible heat retarding material capable of being folded to form an enclosure.

A further object of this invention lies in the provision of a container aforesaid having in addition, strategically disposed segments of additional heat retarding incombustible material to increase the protection afforded to the contents of said container against fire and heat penetration.

A still further object of my presently disclosed invention is to provide within a container of the character herein described at least one pocket of said incombustible, heat retarding material and having a slotted opening selectively closeable by means of a foldable flap portion of said pocket.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent and meaningful during the course of the following specification when considered in association with the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred form of the invention is graphically illustrated. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. It should also be understood that various changes in construction may be resorted to in the course of manufacture without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention, which is to be understood only in accordance with the appended claims. Furthermore, it should be understood that while the invention is described in one particular field of utility it is not my intention to so limit the applicability of the invention but I desire to reserve to myself the claimed invention for every use of which it is now known to be or subsequently discovered to be susceptible.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in this specification and related drawings and consists in a sheet-like incombustible heat retarding material which is foldable into an enclosure for valuable papers and the like and may be folded with plural layers of the said material forming a fire protective housing for the contents thereof. Flaps are provided to insure sealing against substantial passage of air into the container so that fire cannot penetrate and lack of oxygen therein will preclude ignition of the contents. Obviously heat can penetrate at a rate of speed proportional to the intensity thereof. But the insulating properties of the materials employed and the quantity of said material will determine the period of time the container can withstand the heat and prevent damage to the papers therein.

The foregoing and other advantages, objects and features of this invention will become obvious from studying the more detailed description following, in which like reference numerals are employed to designate like parts in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an unfolded container having portions broken away for convenience of illustration;

FIG. 2 is a section taken parallel to the minor, vertical dimension of the sheet-like wrapping having its major marginal edge portions folded inwardly as covering flaps;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the folded and secured container upon a reduced scale;

FIG. 4 is an elevation of a modified container; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section of the sheet-like wrapping.

Referring now to the drawing in more precise detail, the reference numeral 10' designates the container in its entirety. In FIG. 1 it is shown in its open or unfolded condition. Reference numeral 10a (FIG. 3) designates the same container as a folded and secured unit.

The container is constructed of a fire and heat resistant material such as asbestos and/or any suitable textile which has been impregnated with a fire resistant or fire retardant material. For example, cellulosic fabrics which have been impregnated with any conventional fire retardant material such as ammonium bromide phosphoric acid, sodium stannate, potassium hydroxide and potassium thiocyanate have been found to be suitable for use in the present invention. Preferably, to the outer one side of the fabric is applied, in conventional manner, a thin sheet of aluminum or other non-flammable reflective metal to reflect the heat in radiant form.

The container 10 comprises a sheet-like wrapping 11 of rectangular shape and may have a major and a minor dimension. For example, and not limitation, the minor dimension may be considered as vertical and approximately eighteen inches while the major dimension may be considered as being horizontal and from eighteen inches to any practical length depending upon the quantity of valuable papers and the like to be stored and the desired number of layers 12 of material to surround the contents.

To minimize the number of layers 12 required to provide adequate average protection from fire and heat, I suggest securing segments 13 of the same or a different incombustible, heat retarding material to the inner, nonreflective side of the wrapping 11 at strategic locations. Flexible segments 13 of asbestos are very satisfactory and the segments may be chamfered at 14 where the thickness is such as to minimize the flexibility and additional freedom to fold is desirable. A fire resistant adhesive 15 may be employed to secure the segments 13 or any other non-flammable means will sufiice. Preferably this means should also retard the conductivity of heat.

A foldable leaf 16 of said incombustible, heat retardant material is secured at one end to the inner face of wrap ping 11 and is adapted to fold in accordion-pleat fashion on axes parallel to the minor dimension of said wrapping 11. Preferably its attachment is spaced from an end edge of at least the distance equal to a section 17 of leaf 16 between two adjacent folds 18.

Pockets 19 are formed on each side of leaf 16 by overlaying a piece of said material on each leaf section 17 and adhesively or otherwise securing its side and bottom marginal edge portions thereto in face to face relationship for a distance of from /2 in. at the side edges to 2 inches at the bottom edge 20. The top of each pocket 19 is spaced from the top edge 21 of leaf 16 approximately the same distance as at the bottom and is free from the leaf 16 thus forming a slotted opening 23. A flap 22, which is an extension of the pocket material, is commensurate in width to the slotted opening 23 through which the papers 24 are inserted and withdrawn. After the papers 24- are inserted, the flap 22 is folded and its free end inserted into its pocket 19 through the opening 23 in covering relationship to the papers ends, thus providing a substantially air tight pocket 19.

The leaf is then folded, accordion fashion, with the sections 17 juxtaposed and then the wrapping 11 is folded around the folded leaf 16 to form a tightly wound bundle or unit 10a. The upper and lower marginal edge portions 25 and 26 form flaps which are flexible and foldable over the upper and lower edges 21 and of the leaf 16 sufficiently to cover the spaced upper and lower terminals of the pockets 19. This folding of flaps and 26 may take place prior to folding the wrapping 11 or after the said folding whereupon the flaps 25 and 26 may be forced into the center of the unit from the end, thus providing for plural layers of insulation at the ends.

Loops of non-combustible ties 27, as for example wire, are threaded into the wrapping 11 material or otherwise secured at the end thereof opposed to the leaf 16 attachment and are employed to secure the unit against accidental unfolding.

FIGURE 4 shows a highly simplified container having the wrapping 11 formed as a conventional envelope. Segments 13 are disposed therein to enhance the insulative qualities. A single flap 30 covers the slotted opening 23 and may be tied as aforesaid or adhesively secured.

Having thus described my invention I desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, the followmg:

1. A container for valuable papers and the like, comprising:

an enclosure constructed of sheet-like incombustible heat retarding wrapping material capable of being folded; an interior leaf hingedly interconnected to said wrapping material and disposed to be enclosed thereby; said enclosure having at least one pocket therein accessible through a slotted opening and carried by said leaf; and closure means foldable in covering relation to close said slotted opening. 2. The invention defined in claim 1 and further characterized by:

said sheet-like wrapping having additional segments of incombustible heat retarding material fixed thereto at strategic locations, to increase the heat insulation capabilities of the container. 3. The invention defined in claim 1 and further characterized by:

said wrapping having marginal edge flaps foldable inwardly thereof in overlying relationship to the opposed marginal edges of said leaf extending athwart of the hinging axis hingedly interconnecting said leaf and wrapping; and said wrapping being constructed and arranged to facilitate plural foldings thereof about said leaf axially parallel to said axis to form a small unit. 4. The invention of claim 3 and further characterized by:

fireproof means releasably securing the said unit against accidental unfolding. 5. The invention defined in claim 4 and further characterized by:

said wrapping being a rectangular sheet of said material and having a major and a minor dimension; and said additional segments being disposed adjacent to each other and collectively extending substantially the full length of said sheet along its major dimen sion and terminating spaced from its major marginal edges and thus defining said marginal edge flaps. 6. The invention defined in claim 5 and further characterized by:

said leaf having plural said pockets each with its said slotted opening and closure means at least one on each side of said leaf. 7. The invention defined in claim 6 and further characterized by:

each said closure means comprising an elongated fiap of said material having a dimension parallel to its folding axis commensurate to the length of its respective slot, whereby the free end of said lastnamed flap may be inserted into its respective pocket through the said slot. 8. The invention defined in claim 1 and further characterized by:

said enclosure comprising: an elongated sheet-like wrapping capable of plural wrappings about said pocket.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

